The alleged incident occurred on Aug. 20 as Nixon was working as a rigger/welder for the defendants aboard the D/B Arapaho. He states he sustained permanent and disabling injuries to his groin and back when he attempted to move heavy equipment aboard the barge.

The defendants are accused of failing to provide plaintiff with a safe place to work, failing to properly supervise the job being performed, failing to utilize a reasonably safe means of performing the job, failing to coordinate the lifting and movement of the heavy equipment and requiring Nixon to move equipment that was too heavy for him to handle.

The plaintiff is asking for $1.2 million in damages for medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, mental pain and suffering, loss of earning capacity, maintenance and cure, attorney's fees, costs, punitive damages.

Nixon is represented by Evette E. Ungar, George W. Byrne, Jr. and Cheryl L. Wild of Ungar & Byrne in New Orleans.